A NEW exhibition – Bush to Cup – opens at Hereford’s Tidal Wave Gallery on Saturday, featuring paintings by Linda Fowler and tea tastings hosted by Claire Trumper, of Trumpers Teas.

Linda’s work was inspired by meeting Claire who, having fallen into a job with Tetleys Tea some 20 years ago, became fascinated with the people behind the product, leading her to a related career within the Fair Trade movement and, recently, to the launch of her own speciality tea company.

“The more I got to know Claire and hear her amazing stories, the more I thought this would make an interesting subject to paint,” says Linda.

“So, working with Claire, I have developed a series of paintings showing the people and places involved in tea growing.”

The new exhibition follows the success of a calendar Linda designed and painted in 2007 for the Myotubular Trust (a condition her daughter has), and 20 per cent from sales of the paintings and tea will also go to the charity.

The exhibition runs until Saturday, August 29, at Tidal Wave Art Gallery in Bridge Street.